The person that I had lunch with today said they haven't heard anything specific vis a vis with the White Sox but they thought it was unlikely the D-backs would deal Upton. You never say never if the deal is overwhelming but they said outside of that case Arizona didn't expect to trade him.

Chicago is a big market, the White Sox play in Chicago, a big market team should never be in a rebuilding mode.
The trouble is that JR and company have for the most part down through the years run the team more like the Royals than the Yankees, Dodgers or Red Sox.
In over 30 years of ownership how many super star free agents have they signed? How many big market teams would have let Buerhle walk?
This mindset has led to teams that once in awhile win the division and one year caught lightning in a bottle. I'm getting old, I'd like to see us in the WS a couple more times.

__________________Coming up to bat for our White Sox is the Mighty Mite, Nelson Fox.

Agree
We're going to be decent this year because of pitching. But no better than decent. If we can move Rios/Floyd or whomever for some young talent, do it.

This team is currently on the cusp of being less than decent, trading a starting pitcher or their best position player from last year for minor league talent would accomplish that. This team is caught between a rock and a hard place. They have very little minor league talent to trade for talent that can help now, didnt go after quality free agents and dont want to rebuild. I cant think of a solution now for this year and I dont think they can either.

This team is currently on the cusp of being less than decent, trading a starting pitcher or their best position player from last year for minor league talent would accomplish that. This team is caught between a rock and a hard place. They have very little minor league talent to trade for talent that can help now, didnt go after quality free agents and dont want to rebuild. I cant think of a solution now for this year and I dont think they can either.

This is how the team has always been under Reinsdorf. Their strategy stays unclear and in between. It's not going to change that much now. We just have to hope for the best.

Chicago is a big market, the White Sox play in Chicago, a big market team should never be in a rebuilding mode.
The trouble is that JR and company have for the most part down through the years run the team more like the Royals than the Yankees, Dodgers or Red Sox.
In over 30 years of ownership how many super star free agents have they signed? How many big market teams would have let Buerhle walk?
This mindset has led to teams that once in awhile win the division and one year caught lightning in a bottle. I'm getting old, I'd like to see us in the WS a couple more times.

Nell: What constitutes a big market team? If it is attendance, The White Sox are not. Even in 2005, they were not in the top 10. Chicago is a big market but having 2 teams splits the pie too small for the White Sox.

Big market teams may let a Buehrle walk but would sign another big name to replace him.

This is how the team has always been under Reinsdorf. Their strategy stays unclear and in between. It's not going to change that much now. We just have to hope for the best.

I don't know, it seems their strategy roster wise has been fairly clear the last ten years. Pitching first. That was reinforced this off season when the Sox did in fact sign one of the league's top free agents, Jake Peavy, and picked up Floyd's option.

Sure it stinks we have Dunn in the lineup and seem to be lacking hitters. I'd rather lack hitting than pitching. If you lack hitting you still have a chance, if you lack pitching you have no chance. The Sox pitching in 2013 could turn out to be very good.